Requirements for the junction of tiles and laminate, types of docking devices and recommendations for their selection, methods of work. Connecting ceramic tiles and laminate flooring is a necessary solution when using an original combination of flooring materials that differ in structure and texture in modern living spaces. Solutions to problems arising at the junction of different types of coatings will be discussed in this article.
Requirements for joints between laminate and tile
Well-made connections between decks should have the following properties:
- The threshold has decorative and strengthening functions.
- The design extends the service life of the decks.
- The junction is waterproof, because the fixtures cover the unprotected areas.
- The profile does not fade in the sun.
- The fastening method masks the fasteners as much as possible.
- Installation of planks is quick.
- The material is easy to cut and process.
- Possibility of mounting fixtures on floors of different heights.
- Tile and laminate joints should look aesthetically pleasing and not cause discomfort, for example, if you constantly stumble over them.
- The shelf life of the product is not less than the durability of the flooring.
- A properly designed connection visually expands the limited space.
Area of application of the sills for tiles and laminates
The modern design allows you to combine several different floor coverings in the apartment. One of the popular options is a combination of laminate and tile.
Laminate is a narrow long slats 6-11 mm thick, used in rooms with low traffic. Floor tiles - a rectangular ceramic product with a thickness of at least 7.5 mm. It is placed in places where there is a large mechanical load: near the stove and sink, at the entrance to the apartment and on the balcony, etc. Tile is expensive, so the combination of tile and laminate can save you a lot of money.
Problems of joining tiles and boards arise at the border of the corridor with the adjacent rooms. The floors in the doorway are connected, but other options are also possible. For example, in the kitchen, the sink area is sometimes laid out with tiles, and the dining area - with laminate.
In adjacent rooms, the floors are usually covered with the same type of materials, and such difficulties do not arise. Also, the connection between the floors of the bathroom and the corridor is not formalized due to the presence of a high threshold between them, which provides its own microclimate in each of these rooms.
Closing the floors between rooms is usually done in a straight line. The connection of tiles and flooring at the boundaries of functional areas can be of any geometric shape. To camouflage it, they use products that can be manually deformed.
Classification of joints for laminate and tile
There are several classifications of profiles for joining floor coverings. They help to choose the right material in specific situations.
Classification of profiles by hardness
All profiles can be divided into three types: flexible, rigid and liquid. Flexible products are designed for curved gaps. They bend without problems with a radius of up to 30 mm in the cold state and up to 60 - in the hot state.
This type includes the following samples:
- Flexible PVC profiles. They are made of rubber or soft plastic. With their help, the question of how to combine tiles and laminate with a curved seam is solved by bending the product to the required shape. They consist of a base and a decorative insert.
- Flexible metal profile. It is stronger than its plastic counterpart, but does not always fit into the interior of the apartment. Used when joining curved joints. The material is powder coated for reinforcement.
- Metal and plastic products are universal. Fits in straight and curved gaps. Some models have a ribbed anti-slip surface. In the presence of high steps, the profile is placed at an angle.
Rigid products are not designed to fit in the seam configuration and are installed in even gaps. They are made of wood, aluminum alloy, PVC. The profiles form strong, reliable joints between the tile and the laminate that can withstand physical stress and changes in surface dimensions from fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Installation of rigid planks can be carried out at the stage of floor installation or on ready-made floor coverings.
There are several types of such structures:
- Standard version - with holes for self-tapping screws;
- With invisible mount;
- Self-adhesive - with standard adhesive tape for fixing to the floor.
If you do not know how to join a laminate with a tile without gaps, pay attention to the liquid profile. The essence of the method consists in filling the recess with a special solution of waterproof elastic glue and cork chips. It allows you to close openings of any shape without the use of fasteners. The method is easy to install and requires no experience.
Classification by the method of fastening of connecting elements
For a pair of "laminate-tile" you can choose an open or closed connection system. Let's consider their characteristics in more detail:
- Open system … It differs from the others in that the fastener heads are visible. The profiles are fixed to the base with self-tapping screws that go through the bar from top to bottom. The robot can be performed at any stage of construction. Such products are easy to assemble, have the simplest design, and are inexpensive. But in design they are inferior to other devices.
- Hidden system … It has a complex design that allows you to hide the location of the hardware. Some types of profiles are fixed without using self-tapping screws. They have a beautiful appearance.
Classification by profile material
The durability of the joint depends on the material of the product, but not everyone can buy high-quality products. Consider the features of profiles made from various materials:
- Metal profiles (aluminum, steel, brass) … Popular due to the price-quality ratio. Buyers most often prefer aluminum products painted in the color of the laminate or door handles. Usually it is golden, silver or wood-colored.
- Plastic products … Produced in rolls, they are elastic, inexpensive. The disadvantages include low strength and durability, short shelf life. They quickly lose their attractive appearance.
- Wooden crafts … They are very beautiful and are usually used with wood-like boards. Used with expensive flooring. The planks require regular maintenance - re-sanding and varnishing. Moreover, they are expensive.
- Cork expansion joint … Allows you to create a high-quality joint without sills. It is inserted into the gap and becomes a shock absorber between floors of different hardness, because the cork deforms together with the boards during temperature changes. The elasticity and softness of the material contributes to the creation of a high-quality connection. But over time, the top layer wears off, and dirt gets into the gap.
- Laminated MDF moldings … They have an excellent appearance, go well with laminate, but are afraid of moisture.
Structures for connecting multi-level coatings
Depending on the levels of the flooring, different devices are used for joining them:
- One-level molding is a flat design for joining flat floors.
- The transition molding connects the floorings of different heights, between which there is a step from 4 to 20 mm. There are several subspecies of such systems. The round profile with concealed fastening system is used for bonding coverings with large differences in height. Devices of complex geometric shapes are used to form boundaries between functional areas in a room.
- The box sill is capable of covering joints with a height difference of more than 20 mm. It also performs the function of soundproofing and masking.
- The transition profile is also used for joining laminate and tiles with steps up to 30 mm.
- If the differences between the coatings are very large (50-100 mm), a podium is built at the junction. The need for such a design arises if it is impossible to level the base.
- If the boundary between the floors passes in the doorway, and the levels between them are very different, the point of closing is drawn up as a threshold protruding a few centimeters up.
Installation technology for joining profiles of different types
The technology of laying the connecting elements depends on the design of the fixtures, as well as on the characteristics of the gaps between the materials. Consider the most popular methods for decorating floor boundaries.
Installation of an aluminum nut
It is very easy to close even seams with the help of sills of the simplest design made of aluminum or plastic. They are produced in the form of a flat bar with mounting holes. The design is a little more complicated for products that can eliminate small steps. The elements are fixed with self-tapping screws with countersunk heads.
Installation technology is as follows:
- Measure the length of the connection.
- Cut a sample of the required length from the workpiece.
- Install the product in place of the joint. Mark the location of the mounting holes on the floor through the existing grooves in the plank.
- Drill the holes in the floor for the dowels supplied with the nut.
- Apply silicone to the product from the back, which will seal the problem area and protect it from water.
- Secure the planks to the floor with self-tapping screws.
Installation of a plastic profile
The plastic profile speeds up the work with curved seams, but even joints can be closed in this way.
Let's consider how to fix a PVC profile:
- Check the width of the gap between the covers, it should be equal to the width of the plank plus 5 mm.
- Measure its length and cut the profile to the required dimensions.
- Install the fixture into the gap, slide it all the way into the tile. Check for a 5 mm gap between the sheets and the profile.
- Mark the location of the mounting holes on the floor.
- Dismantle the elements and drill holes in the surface to fix the profile. Install dowels in them. If the fasteners are installed with a large backlash, take a larger one.
- Fix the lower part of the profile to the floor with self-tapping screws.
- Place the decorative strip in water heated to 50-79 degrees to soften. You can also warm up the product with a building hair dryer.
- Bend the nut to match the seam geometry. After heat treatment, it can easily take any shape.
- Connect the top and bottom of the product. After cooling, the structure will become very rigid.
Installation of flexible metal profiles
The flexible joint profile for tiles and laminates has special legs, with which it is attached to the base. Therefore, these works are carried out at the stage of floor installation.
Installation diagram of a flexible metal profile:
- Make sure that the thickness of the tiles and boards at the junction is the same, and the height of the profile is equal to the height of the opening.
- Manually shape the sample into a gap.
- Cut off the prepared section from the workpiece.
- Place the nut between the tile and the laminate with the feet underneath the flooring. On the one hand, it will be attached with glue, on the other - with boards. The planks are placed on the nut with a 5 mm gap. If the tiles are already laid, remove some of the adhesive from under the outer edge so that the connecting strip can be pushed in.
- Mark and drill holes in the floor as described above.
- Install dowels into the holes.
- Put the connecting piece in its original place and secure with self-tapping screws.
Installation of sills on a self-adhesive base
For installation, you will need special strips with an adhesive layer protected with a special tape.
Installation of such sills is simple and is done as follows:
- Place the blank in the honey gap with the coatings, place it in the middle and trace the outlines with a pencil.
- Remove the protective film from it and install it in the slot along the marks on the floor.
- Press the specimen to the surface for a few minutes.
Installation of a plug expansion joint
Before starting work, measure the length, depth and width of the groove and select the finished cork gasket by size. Standard dimensions of the insulator: 900x30x14, 900x30x22, 900x15x10, 900x22x10 mm. The protrusion of the cork above the surface is allowed no more than 1 mm.
The product is installed as follows:
- Check the dimensions of the joining seam. It should be even in width and depth. The distance between the ends is 10 mm.
- Make sure the edges of the boards and tiles are smooth and sanded.
- Pour sealant into the bottom of the gap and level it.
- Install a plug in the gap and press down with a press.
- After hardening, cut off the protruding edges and abrade.
- Disguise the connection with tint. Please note that the cork has a porous structure, which, after absorbing the color, gives a rich shade.
- Coat the insert with a water-repellent agent such as oil, varnish or special wax.
Butt joint of laminate and tile
Joining tiles and laminate flooring requires a delicate technique.
The following requirements are imposed on the boundary between floor coverings:
- The surfaces to be joined must lie in the same plane with a deviation of no more than 1 mm. The ends of the materials are carefully trimmed and cleaned.
- Notches and burrs are not allowed.
- There should be no more than 10 mm gap between the coatings.
The work is performed in the following sequence:
- Prime the base of the floor at the joint with KIM TEC Silicon or Zipper, which does not shrink after drying. Do the work carefully, because dried product is very difficult to remove.
- Place the tiles first on the floor. He must cross the line behind which the other flooring will run.
- After the adhesive has cured, lay the second floor covering overlapping the tiles on the floor.
- Prepare a template that follows the contours of the connecting seam. Use it to draw a seam line on the laminate flooring.
- Cut the material along the lines.
- Draw a line on the tiles using the end of the boards as a template.
- Using a diamond wheel, cut off excess parts from the tile.
- Glue the planks to the base of the floor.
- Fill the gaps between the coatings with tile grout.
- After 3-4 years, the junction should be inspected and, if necessary, restored.
How to connect laminate and tile - watch the video:
The design of the joints between laminate and tile is the only question that arises when laying these two finishing materials. Only the production of a strong seam guarantees the long-term performance of the floor covering. To obtain a high-quality result, you must take your work seriously and carry out the installation according to the recommendations given.
